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As the saying goes, you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. If you're doing a job search or resume submission via email, the first impression any employer will have is from your cover letter. Some tips for creating successful email cover letters are the same as for paper cover letters: Be professional, with correct spelling and grammar, ...

Getting an interview is a really big deal. It means that you have achieved a level of confidence with your resume and cover letter and have made it to the next steps of the hiring equation. This is something that you should be proud of; this is also something you should take very, very seriously. The interview presents a lot ...

To say teamwork enhances nurses' performance and job satisfaction almost sounds too obvious. Teamwork is a requirement in nursing, otherwise nothing would ever get done. Of course that isn't the case for any nurse, especially nurses who work busy shifts in a hectic hospital setting. However, it's a lot easier when it comes to teamwork to look at others who ...

The adage says, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," and its wisdom is applicable to job seekers. It is usually far easier to find another job if you're already employed. But how can you ensure that the worst never happens to you -- that you're never left without a job and possibilities for your next opportunity? ...

A new study out in Science Translational Medicine shows that the benefits of painkillers can be boosted or wiped out simply by manipulating some very simple factors. The BBC reported on how a patient's attitude can affects on the results of studies and in the use of new drugs. Heat was applied to the legs of 22 patients, who were ...

The doctor/nurse working relationship has its ups and downs. When the two work well together, the most difficult of patient cases seems like a breeze. But if there is any contention, if one rubs the other the wrong way, tackling even the simplest problem is like climbing Mount Everest in the off season – a nightmare. We know what doctors ...

Your employer just let you go. You need to find another job, but how should you handle your termination on your resume? The days when you signed on with a company and stayed with it until retirement are gone. In today's climate, employers are much more understanding when they see a less-than-perfect work chronology. Follow these tips regarding losing your job ...

Most nurses do a good job at taking care of others but can sometimes neglect themselves. Tax season can be one of those times. So it’s important to take some time to think about what you need to file your taxes on time and whether you’re going to need help in getting them filed. Here is a general guideline to help ...

Desperate times often call for desperate measures -- and in a brutal employment market, some job seekers may be tempted to falsify their work or education history in order to make themselves more attractive to potential employers. HireRight.com, a provider of on-demand employment background screening, recently found that 34 percent of job applicants lie on resumes. And when HotJobs recently asked ...

According to evolutionary theory, we all evolved from more basic species. Animals grew limbs if they needed them and developed lungs to live on the ground. Some changed colors to blend into the fauna, while others developed serious defense mechanisms, like the quills on a porcupine. So, as evolution continues, perhaps the perfect nurse will evolve from the simple human she ...

Nurses often find themselves playing detective when caring for patients. You thought your patient was being straightforward with you when they shared their health history, but when unexpected physical and psychological symptoms cropped up, you wondered if they were telling you the whole truth. Keeping secrets with their medical history is an unfortunate reality, making it tough on the patient to ...

One of the more challenging subjects for me when it comes to test-taking are the questions revolving around therapeutic communication. I think it’s mostly because when we look at the range of topics we have to cover, we see therapeutic communication as something “easy” since we all communicate every day. And unless we’ve had some bad relationships lately because we can’t ...

Across the country is seemingly a contradiction of needs. Projections point toward a nursing shortage while in reality at this time; hundreds of nurses are graduating from nursing school and cannot find a job. I read story after story from new nurse graduates who cannot find employment and desperation is setting in. As a former nurse manager, I read these stories ...

If you're among the millions of people who have lost their jobs since the recession started in December 2007, you’re facing some daunting financial questions. One may be: What should I do with my 401k? While raiding your 401k to pad your bank account during your time of transition may seem appealing, doing so could sabotage your chances of a financially ...

Does it ever make sense to take a step down the career ladder? If you can get past that nagging, inborn sense that "going lower" can only be a sign of downward career mobility, the answer is yes. Taking a lesser position can help move your career forward if the job fits into a larger long-term plan. Read on to find ...

Nobody loves going to work all the time--but there's a difference between routine workplace hassles and a working environment that stresses you out to the point of illness, according to Linnda Durre, the author of "Surviving the Toxic Workplace." Durre suggests that hostile working environments typically have one or more types of dysfunction--how many symptoms does yours have? Unfairness [widget:a_day_in_the_life] You ...

The Case Description: Mr. James is a 57 year old gentleman admitted to room 224A two days ago for dehydration secondary to nausea and vomiting for three days. His sclera is slightly yellowed and his abdomen is distended and tender to palpation especially in the upper right quadrant. After two days of IV lasix therapy, he has 2+ edema in his ...

Years later, I still remember that sinking feeling, just after I'd hit the Send button after writing an email complaining about an editor. My worst virtual fear was quickly confirmed: Yes, I had sent my bit of snark to the editor instead of my friend--and no, the editor wasn't amused. Although he initially refused to work with me again, he eventually ...

Crazy is as crazy does sir. You know crazy don’t you? It’s a garden variety day for most staff nurses. ‘Crazy’ is probably the only constant thing that happens at work. It’s a guarantee that the ‘you-know-what’ will hit the fan inevitably. The question isn’t ‘if’ it will happen, the question is ‘when’ it will happen (more than likely at the ...

For almost everyone, having a job means working on teams. But not all team leaders know how to create successful teams--by building consensus, setting agendas, meeting deadlines, encouraging good ideas, and so on. In fact, many team leaders are thrown into the role without training in any of these areas. If your leader seems to be less than fully competent, there ...